History of Henry VIII

Duke of Norfolk. If you will now unite in your complaints,
And force them with a constancy, the cardinal
Cannot stand under them: if you omit
1830The offer of this time, I cannot promise
But that you shall sustain moe new disgraces,
With these you bear already.

Earl of Surrey. I am joyful
To meet the least occasion that may give me
1835Remembrance of my father-in-law, the duke,
To be revenged on him.

Duke of Suffolk. Which of the peers
Have uncontemn'd gone by him, or at least
Strangely neglected? when did he regard
1840The stamp of nobleness in any person
Out of himself?

Lord Chamberlain. My lords, you speak your pleasures:
What he deserves of you and me I know;
What we can do to him, though now the time
1845Gives way to us, I much fear. If you cannot
Bar his access to the king, never attempt
Any thing on him; for he hath a witchcraft
Over the king in's tongue.

Duke of Norfolk. O, fear him not;
1850His spell in that is out: the king hath found
Matter against him that for ever mars
The honey of his language. No, he's settled,
Not to come off, in his displeasure.

Earl of Surrey. Sir,
1855I should be glad to hear such news as this
Once every hour.

Duke of Norfolk. Believe it, this is true:
In the divorce his contrary proceedings
Are all unfolded wherein he appears
1860As I would wish mine enemy.

Duke of Suffolk. The cardinal's letters to the pope miscarried,
And came to the eye o' the king: wherein was read,
How that the cardinal did entreat his holiness
To stay the judgment o' the divorce; for if
It did take place, 'I do,' quoth he, 'perceive
1870My king is tangled in affection to
A creature of the queen's, Lady Anne Bullen.'

Lord Chamberlain. The king in this perceives him, how he coasts
And hedges his own way. But in this point
All his tricks founder, and he brings his physic
After his patient's death: the king already
Hath married the fair lady.
1880

Duke of Suffolk. There's order given for her coronation:
Marry, this is yet but young, and may be left
To some ears unrecounted. But, my lords,
1890She is a gallant creature, and complete
In mind and feature: I persuade me, from her
Will fall some blessing to this land, which shall
In it be memorised.

Earl of Surrey. But, will the king
1895Digest this letter of the cardinal's?
The Lord forbid!

Duke of Suffolk. No, no;
There be moe wasps that buzz about his nose
1900Will make this sting the sooner. Cardinal Campeius
Is stol'n away to Rome; hath ta'en no leave;
Has left the cause o' the king unhandled; and
Is posted, as the agent of our cardinal,
To second all his plot. I do assure you
1905The king cried Ha! at this.

Duke of Suffolk. He is return'd in his opinions; which
Have satisfied the king for his divorce,
Together with all famous colleges
Almost in Christendom: shortly, I believe,
His second marriage shall be publish'd, and
1915Her coronation. Katharine no more
Shall be call'd queen, but princess dowager
And widow to Prince Arthur.

Duke of Norfolk. This same Cranmer's
A worthy fellow, and hath ta'en much pain
1920In the king's business.

Cardinal Wolsey. Leave me awhile.
[Exit CROMWELL][Aside]It shall be to the Duchess of Alencon,
The French king's sister: he shall marry her.
1945Anne Bullen! No; I'll no Anne Bullens for him:
There's more in't than fair visage. Bullen!
No, we'll no Bullens. Speedily I wish
To hear from Rome. The Marchioness of Pembroke!

Cardinal Wolsey. [Aside] The late queen's gentlewoman,
1955a knight's daughter,
To be her mistress' mistress! the queen's queen!
This candle burns not clear: 'tis I must snuff it;
Then out it goes. What though I know her virtuous
And well deserving? yet I know her for
1960A spleeny Lutheran; and not wholesome to
Our cause, that she should lie i' the bosom of
Our hard-ruled king. Again, there is sprung up
An heretic, an arch one, Cranmer; one
Hath crawl'd into the favour of the king,
1965And is his oracle.

Henry VIII. What piles of wealth hath he accumulated
To his own portion! and what expense by the hour
Seems to flow from him! How, i' the name of thrift,
Does he rake this together! Now, my lords,
1975Saw you the cardinal?

Duke of Norfolk. My lord, we have
Stood here observing him: some strange commotion
Is in his brain: he bites his lip, and starts;
Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground,
1980Then lays his finger on his temple, straight
Springs out into fast gait; then stops again,
Strikes his breast hard, and anon he casts
His eye against the moon: in most strange postures
We have seen him set himself.
1985

Henry VIII. It may well be;
There is a mutiny in's mind. This morning
Papers of state he sent me to peruse,
As I required: and wot you what I found
There,—on my conscience, put unwittingly?
1990Forsooth, an inventory, thus importing;
The several parcels of his plate, his treasure,
Rich stuffs, and ornaments of household; which
I find at such proud rate, that it out-speaks
Possession of a subject.
1995

Duke of Norfolk. It's heaven's will:
Some spirit put this paper in the packet,
To bless your eye withal.

Henry VIII. If we did think
His contemplation were above the earth,
2000And fix'd on spiritual object, he should still
Dwell in his musings: but I am afraid
His thinkings are below the moon, not worth
His serious considering.
[King HENRY VIII takes his seat; whispers LOVELL,]2005who goes to CARDINAL WOLSEY]

Henry VIII. Good my lord,
You are full of heavenly stuff, and bear the inventory
2010Of your best graces in your mind; the which
You were now running o'er: you have scarce time
To steal from spiritual leisure a brief span
To keep your earthly audit: sure, in that
I deem you an ill husband, and am glad
2015To have you therein my companion.

Cardinal Wolsey. Sir,
For holy offices I have a time; a time
To think upon the part of business which
I bear i' the state; and nature does require
2020Her times of preservation, which perforce
I, her frail son, amongst my brethren mortal,
Must give my tendence to.

Cardinal Wolsey. And ever may your highness yoke together,
2025As I will lend you cause, my doing well
With my well saying!

Henry VIII. 'Tis well said again;
And 'tis a kind of good deed to say well:
And yet words are no deeds. My father loved you:
2030His said he did; and with his deed did crown
His word upon you. Since I had my office,
I have kept you next my heart; have not alone
Employ'd you where high profits might come home,
But pared my present havings, to bestow
2035My bounties upon you.

Henry VIII. Have I not made you,
The prime man of the state? I pray you, tell me,
2040If what I now pronounce you have found true:
And, if you may confess it, say withal,
If you are bound to us or no. What say you?

Cardinal Wolsey. My sovereign, I confess your royal graces,
Shower'd on me daily, have been more than could
2045My studied purposes requite; which went
Beyond all man's endeavours: my endeavours
Have ever come too short of my desires,
Yet filed with my abilities: mine own ends
Have been mine so that evermore they pointed
2050To the good of your most sacred person and
The profit of the state. For your great graces
Heap'd upon me, poor undeserver, I
Can nothing render but allegiant thanks,
My prayers to heaven for you, my loyalty,
2055Which ever has and ever shall be growing,
Till death, that winter, kill it.

Henry VIII. Fairly answer'd;
A loyal and obedient subject is
Therein illustrated: the honour of it
2060Does pay the act of it; as, i' the contrary,
The foulness is the punishment. I presume
That, as my hand has open'd bounty to you,
My heart dropp'd love, my power rain'd honour, more
On you than any; so your hand and heart,
2065Your brain, and every function of your power,
Should, notwithstanding that your bond of duty,
As 'twere in love's particular, be more
To me, your friend, than any.

Cardinal Wolsey. I do profess
2070That for your highness' good I ever labour'd
More than mine own; that am, have, and will be—
Though all the world should crack their duty to you,
And throw it from their soul; though perils did
Abound, as thick as thought could make 'em, and
2075Appear in forms more horrid,—yet my duty,
As doth a rock against the chiding flood,
Should the approach of this wild river break,
And stand unshaken yours.

Henry VIII. 'Tis nobly spoken:
2080Take notice, lords, he has a loyal breast,
For you have seen him open't. Read o'er this;
[Giving him papers]And after, this: and then to breakfast with
What appetite you have.
2085[Exit KING HENRY VIII, frowning upon CARDINAL WOLSEY:]the Nobles throng after him, smiling and whispering]

Cardinal Wolsey. What should this mean?
What sudden anger's this? how have I reap'd it?
He parted frowning from me, as if ruin
2090Leap'd from his eyes: so looks the chafed lion
Upon the daring huntsman that has gall'd him;
Then makes him nothing. I must read this paper;
I fear, the story of his anger. 'Tis so;
This paper has undone me: 'tis the account
2095Of all that world of wealth I have drawn together
For mine own ends; indeed, to gain the popedom,
And fee my friends in Rome. O negligence!
Fit for a fool to fall by: what cross devil
Made me put this main secret in the packet
2100I sent the king? Is there no way to cure this?
No new device to beat this from his brains?
I know 'twill stir him strongly; yet I know
A way, if it take right, in spite of fortune
Will bring me off again. What's this? 'To the Pope!'
2105The letter, as I live, with all the business
I writ to's holiness. Nay then, farewell!
I have touch'd the highest point of all my greatness;
And, from that full meridian of my glory,
I haste now to my setting: I shall fall
2110Like a bright exhalation m the evening,
And no man see me more.
[Re-enter to CARDINAL WOLSEY, NORFOLK and SUFFOLK, SURREY,]and the Chamberlain]

Duke of Norfolk. Hear the king's pleasure, cardinal: who commands you
2115To render up the great seal presently
Into our hands; and to confine yourself
To Asher House, my Lord of Winchester's,
Till you hear further from his highness.

Duke of Suffolk. Who dare cross 'em,
Bearing the king's will from his mouth expressly?

Cardinal Wolsey. Till I find more than will or words to do it,
2125I mean your malice, know, officious lords,
I dare and must deny it. Now I feel
Of what coarse metal ye are moulded, envy:
How eagerly ye follow my disgraces,
As if it fed ye! and how sleek and wanton
2130Ye appear in every thing may bring my ruin!
Follow your envious courses, men of malice;
You have Christian warrant for 'em, and, no doubt,
In time will find their fit rewards. That seal,
You ask with such a violence, the king,
2135Mine and your master, with his own hand gave me;
Bade me enjoy it, with the place and honours,
During my life; and, to confirm his goodness,
Tied it by letters-patents: now, who'll take it?

Earl of Surrey. Thy ambition,
Thou scarlet sin, robb'd this bewailing land
Of noble Buckingham, my father-in-law:
The heads of all thy brother cardinals,
With thee and all thy best parts bound together,
2150Weigh'd not a hair of his. Plague of your policy!
You sent me deputy for Ireland;
Far from his succor, from the king, from all
That might have mercy on the fault thou gavest him;
Whilst your great goodness, out of holy pity,
2155Absolved him with an axe.

Cardinal Wolsey. This, and all else
This talking lord can lay upon my credit,
I answer is most false. The duke by law
Found his deserts: how innocent I was
2160From any private malice in his end,
His noble jury and foul cause can witness.
If I loved many words, lord, I should tell you
You have as little honesty as honour,
That in the way of loyalty and truth
2165Toward the king, my ever royal master,
Dare mate a sounder man than Surrey can be,
And all that love his follies.

Earl of Surrey. By my soul,
Your long coat, priest, protects you; thou
2170shouldst feel
My sword i' the life-blood of thee else. My lords,
Can ye endure to hear this arrogance?
And from this fellow? if we live thus tamely,
To be thus jaded by a piece of scarlet,
2175Farewell nobility; let his grace go forward,
And dare us with his cap like larks.

Earl of Surrey. Yes, that goodness
2180Of gleaning all the land's wealth into one,
Into your own hands, cardinal, by extortion;
The goodness of your intercepted packets
You writ to the pope against the king: your goodness,
Since you provoke me, shall be most notorious.
2185My Lord of Norfolk, as you are truly noble,
As you respect the common good, the state
Of our despised nobility, our issues,
Who, if he live, will scarce be gentlemen,
Produce the grand sum of his sins, the articles
2190Collected from his life. I'll startle you
Worse than the scaring bell, when the brown wench
Lay kissing in your arms, lord cardinal.

Cardinal Wolsey. How much, methinks, I could despise this man,
But that I am bound in charity against it!
2195

Duke of Norfolk. Those articles, my lord, are in the king's hand:
But, thus much, they are foul ones.

Cardinal Wolsey. So much fairer
And spotless shall mine innocence arise,
When the king knows my truth.
2200

Earl of Surrey. This cannot save you:
I thank my memory, I yet remember
Some of these articles; and out they shall.
Now, if you can blush and cry 'guilty,' cardinal,
You'll show a little honesty.
2205

Cardinal Wolsey. Speak on, sir;
I dare your worst objections: if I blush,
It is to see a nobleman want manners.

Earl of Surrey. I had rather want those than my head. Have at you!
First, that, without the king's assent or knowledge,
2210You wrought to be a legate; by which power
You maim'd the jurisdiction of all bishops.

Duke of Norfolk. Then, that in all you writ to Rome, or else
To foreign princes, 'Ego et Rex meus'
Was still inscribed; in which you brought the king
2215To be your servant.

Duke of Suffolk. Then that, without the knowledge
Either of king or council, when you went
Ambassador to the emperor, you made bold
To carry into Flanders the great seal.
2220

Earl of Surrey. Item, you sent a large commission
To Gregory de Cassado, to conclude,
Without the king's will or the state's allowance,
A league between his highness and Ferrara.

Duke of Suffolk. That, out of mere ambition, you have caused
2225Your holy hat to be stamp'd on the king's coin.

Earl of Surrey. Then that you have sent innumerable substance—
By what means got, I leave to your own conscience—
To furnish Rome, and to prepare the ways
You have for dignities; to the mere undoing
2230Of all the kingdom. Many more there are;
Which, since they are of you, and odious,
I will not taint my mouth with.

Lord Chamberlain. O my lord,
Press not a falling man too far! 'tis virtue:
2235His faults lie open to the laws; let them,
Not you, correct him. My heart weeps to see him
So little of his great self.

Duke of Suffolk. Lord cardinal, the king's further pleasure is,
2240Because all those things you have done of late,
By your power legatine, within this kingdom,
Fall into the compass of a praemunire,
That therefore such a writ be sued against you;
To forfeit all your goods, lands, tenements,
2245Chattels, and whatsoever, and to be
Out of the king's protection. This is my charge.

Duke of Norfolk. And so we'll leave you to your meditations
How to live better. For your stubborn answer
About the giving back the great seal to us,
2250The king shall know it, and, no doubt, shall thank you.
So fare you well, my little good lord cardinal.

[Exeunt all but CARDINAL WOLSEY]

Cardinal Wolsey. So farewell to the little good you bear me.
Farewell! a long farewell, to all my greatness!
2255This is the state of man: to-day he puts forth
The tender leaves of hopes; to-morrow blossoms,
And bears his blushing honours thick upon him;
The third day comes a frost, a killing frost,
And, when he thinks, good easy man, full surely
2260His greatness is a-ripening, nips his root,
And then he falls, as I do. I have ventured,
Like little wanton boys that swim on bladders,
This many summers in a sea of glory,
But far beyond my depth: my high-blown pride
2265At length broke under me and now has left me,
Weary and old with service, to the mercy
Of a rude stream, that must for ever hide me.
Vain pomp and glory of this world, I hate ye:
I feel my heart new open'd. O, how wretched
2270Is that poor man that hangs on princes' favours!
There is, betwixt that smile we would aspire to,
That sweet aspect of princes, and their ruin,
More pangs and fears than wars or women have:
And when he falls, he falls like Lucifer,
2275Never to hope again.
[Enter CROMWELL, and stands amazed]Why, how now, Cromwell!

Cardinal Wolsey. Why, well;
2285Never so truly happy, my good Cromwell.
I know myself now; and I feel within me
A peace above all earthly dignities,
A still and quiet conscience. The king has cured me,
I humbly thank his grace; and from these shoulders,
2290These ruin'd pillars, out of pity, taken
A load would sink a navy, too much honour:
O, 'tis a burthen, Cromwell, 'tis a burthen
Too heavy for a man that hopes for heaven!

Cromwell. The next is, that Sir Thomas More is chosen
Lord chancellor in your place.
2305

Cardinal Wolsey. That's somewhat sudden:
But he's a learned man. May he continue
Long in his highness' favour, and do justice
For truth's sake and his conscience; that his bones,
When he has run his course and sleeps in blessings,
2310May have a tomb of orphans' tears wept on em! What more?

Cromwell. That Cranmer is return'd with welcome,
Install'd lord archbishop of Canterbury.

Cromwell. Last, that the Lady Anne,
2315Whom the king hath in secrecy long married,
This day was view'd in open as his queen,
Going to chapel; and the voice is now
Only about her coronation.

Cardinal Wolsey. There was the weight that pull'd me down. O Cromwell,
2320The king has gone beyond me: all my glories
In that one woman I have lost for ever:
No sun shall ever usher forth mine honours,
Or gild again the noble troops that waited
Upon my smiles. Go, get thee from me, Cromwell;
2325I am a poor fall'n man, unworthy now
To be thy lord and master: seek the king;
That sun, I pray, may never set! I have told him
What and how true thou art: he will advance thee;
Some little memory of me will stir him—
2330I know his noble nature—not to let
Thy hopeful service perish too: good Cromwell,
Neglect him not; make use now, and provide
For thine own future safety.

Cromwell. O my lord,
2335Must I, then, leave you? must I needs forego
So good, so noble and so true a master?
Bear witness, all that have not hearts of iron,
With what a sorrow Cromwell leaves his lord.
The king shall have my service: but my prayers
2340For ever and for ever shall be yours.

Cardinal Wolsey. Cromwell, I did not think to shed a tear
In all my miseries; but thou hast forced me,
Out of thy honest truth, to play the woman.
Let's dry our eyes: and thus far hear me, Cromwell;
2345And, when I am forgotten, as I shall be,
And sleep in dull cold marble, where no mention
Of me more must be heard of, say, I taught thee,
Say, Wolsey, that once trod the ways of glory,
And sounded all the depths and shoals of honour,
2350Found thee a way, out of his wreck, to rise in;
A sure and safe one, though thy master miss'd it.
Mark but my fall, and that that ruin'd me.
Cromwell, I charge thee, fling away ambition:
By that sin fell the angels; how can man, then,
2355The image of his Maker, hope to win by it?
Love thyself last: cherish those hearts that hate thee;
Corruption wins not more than honesty.
Still in thy right hand carry gentle peace,
To silence envious tongues. Be just, and fear not:
2360Let all the ends thou aim'st at be thy country's,
Thy God's, and truth's; then if thou fall'st,
O Cromwell,
Thou fall'st a blessed martyr! Serve the king;
And,—prithee, lead me in:
2365There take an inventory of all I have,
To the last penny; 'tis the king's: my robe,
And my integrity to heaven, is all
I dare now call mine own. O Cromwell, Cromwell!
Had I but served my God with half the zeal
2370I served my king, he would not in mine age
Have left me naked to mine enemies.